Gangetic River Dolphin Rescues in the Ganges, Uttar Pradesh

-  Announcements, -  Articles Leave a Comment

Anthropogenic pressure has adversely affected nature in many ways. Barrages and dams on river systems have restricted the movement of aquatic wildlife such as the Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and freshwater turtles.

Post the monsoon when the river and canal levels are high, Gangetic dolphins often get stranded in the canals connected with major tributaries of the River Ganga. Once they enter a duct, there is no way back since … Read More

Otters under attack from feral dogs, Chambal River, Rajasthan

-  Photos Leave a Comment

Near Rawatbhata, on the Chambal river in Rajasthan, an otter family was on their daily routine hunting trail. A pack of 5-6 feral dogs appeared and separated one young otter and surrounded her in a small isolated pool between the rocks. On her distress call other members of the otter pack came to her rescue. The dogs gave up but continued to follow the pack along the trail. I was informed by locals that such incidents are very common in … Read More

Eurasian Otter Found in Chilika Lake, Odisha

-  Announcements, -  Articles Leave a Comment

The Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) is a Near Threatened otter species. While there is much research globally, little is known of its distribution in India, making a recent record from Chilika lake in Odisha significant.

We, at The Fishing Cat Project, stumbled upon this otter while searching for another wetland carnivore in Chilika – the Fishing Cat. Locals told us about the presence of ‘Uddho’ or otters in Chilika, but even they were not aware of the fact that two … Read More

Death of an Otter

-  Photos, -  Picture of the Week Leave a Comment

It was January 2017, when I heard their barks and yelps on a fishing trip near Shivanasamudra in Karnataka. I put down the rod for the rest of the two days and watched and photographed the Smooth-coated otter dog and bitch with two pups – the parents pushing the pups to swim, and later feeding them. What a joy it was! In my heart I was so glad that their tribe was increasing in our conservation area (Wildlife Association Of … Read More

Conserving Otters as if People Mattered

-  Announcements, -  Articles, -  Featured Article Leave a Comment

The first time I saw an otter in the wild – a Smooth Coated Otter in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary – I knew this was the animal I wanted to see much more of. If you have seen an otter – any one of the thirteen species found across the World – you will agree that there is something charming, childlike and engaging about this mammal. Yet what really got me moving along an ottery path about a couple of … Read More

Otters in a Famous Tourist Destination

-  Announcements Leave a Comment

Beaches and sunsets are what come to mind when most people think of Goa. This small state in western India has earned its reputation as one of the most favoured top tourist destinations. But very few know that Goa also has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Much of the eastern rim of Goa falls within the Western Ghats (a global biodiversity hotspot). Goa has an area of 3,702 sq.km with several rivers spread across the state, all of … Read More

Turtle and Terrapin Trade Busted in Raichur, Karnataka

-  Articles, -  Featured Article Leave a Comment

Forest officials along with Mr. Santosh Martin, Honorary Wildlife Warden of Bellary, raided and arrested several people in the notorious wildlife trading markets of Bengali camp number 2 in Sindh Anur taluk of Raichur district, who were poaching and selling hundreds of turtles and terrapins.

Martin informed Karnataka PCCF (Wildlife) Mr. Deepak Sarmah along with photographs of the thriving wildlife market and the PCCF initiated immediate action. Ms. Radha Devi, CCF Gulbarga and Mr Chakrapani, DFO Raichur sent forest officials … Read More